Commerce, Texas – The first official tip-off of the season begins in the Centennial State for the Lions as they travel to participate in the CSU-Pueblo Al Kaly Shrine Classic in Pueblo, Colorado.

 
On Friday, November 13 at 6:30 p.m. the Lions will square off against Metro State in the Massari Arena, and then play host CSU-Pueblo Saturday, November 14 at 8:30 p.m. This will be the first time the Lions will meet both of these programs in the 44-year-old history of A&M-Commerce women's basketball.
 
When asked about preparing for a team that the program has never seen before, head coach Jason Burton said, " We have to focus on ourselves. Right now we are figuring out what we do well and improving on the things we struggle with. We must be concerned about how A&M-Commerce can be good so the focus is solely on us and getting better." 
 
Last season, Metro State went 13-13 overall with a 10-12 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) record and finished the season 2-0 at neutral sites. The Roadrunners averaged 64.7 points per game shooting 41.6 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the three-point line. Metro State also average 42.5 rebounds per game, 12.1 assists per game and 16.8 turnovers per game which was the fifth highest in the conference. Impactful returners for the Roadrunners consist of junior Jenae Paine and sophomore Georgia Ohrdorf. Paine was the second leading scorer on the team averaging 9.8 points per contest with Ohrdorf right behind her with 9.1 points per game. Ohrdorf was also the second leading rebounder with 5.6 boards per game and had a stunning performance as a freshman against Regis where she recorded a double-double with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. Last year senior Deni Jacobs led the team in both scoring average and rebounds. Head coach Tanya Haave will be entering into her sixth year at the helm and has a 104-44 record during her tenure at Metro State.
 
CSU-Pueblo finished the 2014-15 season 18-12 with a 14-8 RMAC record as well as going 11-3 in the Massari Arena. The Thunderwolves finished fourth in the conference and made it to the championship game for the 2015 RMAC Tournament where they fell to Colorado Christian 52-44. CSU-Pueblo averaged 62.5 points per game and shot only 38.9 percent from the floor and 30.7 percent from beyond the arc. The Thunderwolves had 38.4 rebounds per game, 12.7 assists per game, and also 8.2 steals per game. Junior Ashley Piper is the unquestioned returning leader of the squad as she led the team with 13.4 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game and shot 81.2 percent from the stripe. Piper had five double-doubles last season and was named to the RMAC Women's Basketball All-Tournament Team. Head coach Jim Turgeon will enter into his first season behind the wheel of the program after an eight-year tenure at Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, Iowa. While at Iowa Western, Turgeon became the all time leader in wins posting a 191-65 record including a 130-32 stint in the last five seasons.
 
The Lions have very little experience against teams in the RMAC but do hold a 2-1 record against current institutions in the conference. A&M-Commerce is 1-0 against Adams State, 1-0 against Regis, and 0-1 against South Dakota Mines.  The most recent out of the three was the game versus South Dakota Mines in the 2013-2014 season where the Lions fell short in The Field House 60-65. The win against Adams State dates back to 1998 while the win against Regis is just over two decades ago in the 1993-94 season.
  
Fans can follow all the action from the 2015-16 season on www.LionAthletics.com, through twitter @Lion_Athletics and @Lions_WBB as well as on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LionsAthletics.